San Jose Sharks Eliminate Los Angeles Kings, Advance to Second Round

San Jose Sharks Knocked Off Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings in Game 5, Will Await Winner of Anaheim/Nashville

After years of attempting to get over the hump, the San Jose Sharks have finally beaten their rival Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks closed out game 5 at Staples Center with a convincing 6-3 victory as away teams continue to dominate in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Last time San Jose advanced to the second round, they met up with Los Angeles in 2013 during the lock-out shortened season. The Kings went on to defeat the Sharks in seven games, but fell short to the eventual Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks in round three.

One year later (2014), San Jose and Los Angeles met up once again, this time in the opening round after finishing 2nd/3rd in the Pacific Division. The Kings defeated the Sharks in seven games en route to their second Stanley Cup in three years.

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So, what was the difference two years later? Well, this Sharks team is still very much the same core group of leaders. Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Brent Burns, Logan Couture, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are still the focal pieces. Can players such as Martin Jones, Joonas Donskoi, Paul Martin, Roman Polak, Joel Ward, among a few others have that significant of an impact? Or, were the Los Angeles Kings simply not a very good team?

Believe it or not, it was a combination of the above plus other factors. Yes, the support/secondary personnel is improved with the Sharks being as close to 12-deep up front as they’ve ever been. But, lets call a spade a spade; Los Angeles is not the same dominant force that won two Stanley Cup’s over a three-year period.

One thing stood above all else though, the San Jose Sharks perseverance and determination. For a team that in the past almost found ways to lose or shoot themselves in the foot, San Jose showed a great deal of poise this year. The skill has always been there with this core group, but finally getting over that mental hurdle makes the Sharks a very dangerous team moving forward.

More puck prose: Sharks/Kings Round 1 Preview

via NHL.com,

Apr 22, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) and right wing Melker Karlsson (68) celebrate after an empty net goal in the third period against the Los Angeles Kings in game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. The Sharks defeated the Kings 6-3 to win the series 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

“I haven’t been around here for some of the stuff that’s gone on in the past, but I’m sure for some guys, they felt like we exorcised some demons tonight,” Sharks coach Peter DeBoer said. “For the group in general, it was just a well-earned victory.”

San Jose took a 3-0 lead but the Kings scored three times in the second period to tie the game. There were two chances for the Sharks to create more separation, a two-man advantage in the first period and a penalty shot in the second, but they failed to capitalize on either and the Kings felt they could take advantage.

Drawing on veteran leadership, the Sharks were able to keep their composure in the third period.

“The message to the group (at the second intermission) was more about we’re here, we’re in this position, it doesn’t really matter how we got here,” Sharks captain Joe Pavelski said. “We’d like to perform a little better with a 3-0 lead but we’re in a position where 20 minutes will work and win a period and close out a series. Guys really grasped on to that.”

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Looking forward to the second round, San Jose will meet the winner between Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators. Both teams can pose a challenge for the opposition, but at this point, the Sharks might be the team to beat in the Western Conference.

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